Damp Proofing Your Cinderblock Basement
Is your old cinderblock basement damp and leaky? Here are some tips to improve water leakage in your cinderblock basement.
Seal the Walls
Try sealing your walls with a concrete or masonry sealer, such as Drylock. You can easily paint a coat or two of sealer on your basement walls to form a moisture barrier to prevent water from seeping through the concrete. These sealers can also make your old basement walls look more appealing.
Repair Cinderblock Joints
If there is a significant leak between two cinderblocks, you can repair the leak with a little bit of work. Use a masonry grinder to grind out an inch or two of mortar in the leaking area, and then pack hydraulic cement in the seam. Hydraulic cement will harden when damp, and expands to fill the gap better.
Check Your Landscaping
Over time, the land around the foundation of your house can settle and move. If the land is sloping towards your house, you are directing water towards your foundation. The goal is to direct water away from your house, minimizing the amount of water that can leak through your foundation and into your basement. Analyze the ground around your home. If it is sloping towards your house, re-grade the ground or add dirt near the foundation so that the ground slopes away from your foundation.
Look at Your Gutters
If your gutters direct water near your house, more water will saturate the ground around your foundation and cause leaking in your basement. You can purchase gutter extensions to direct rainwater further away from your foundation. If you do not like the look of gutter extensions above ground, you can purchase tubing that you can connect to your downspout and bury. Ask your local home improvement store for more options to direct rainwater away from your foundation.